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You don’t start this 640-horsepower V-12. You ignite it. The result is an eruption of mechanical and exhaust noises that’ll peg your car lust-o-meter like it may not have been pegged in a while. And now, your ears will enjoy the aural assault that much more, as the LP640 (the updated, upgraded, and uprated version of the flagship Murcilago) is at last available in roadster form. Pity the poor Kenwood audio system. It won’t get much use, because the tunes you’ll want to hear come from just over your right shoulder.

The LP640 Roadster combines the LP640 coupe’s technical and design updates with the al fresco style of the previous Murcilago Roadster. The angular body basics are the same, but the front and rear ends get a nip/tuck; that front spoiler could be dangerous to one’s shins. The rockers also are bladelike, and the side scoops are asymmetrical. The driver-side intake houses an oil cooler, while the opposite one is shaped differently and is vestigial. Wheel and taillight designs are new, as are the slats over the engine and a host of other details. Lambo’s design studio has freshened up the cabin, interior materials, and electronics.

Although architecturally the same as the previous Murcilago’s V-12, this engine’s displacement gets punched from 6.2 to 6.5 liters. Horsepower is now 631 and torque increases to 487 pound-feet. Take your choice between a conventional six-speed manual and Lamborghini‘s eGear autoclutch transmission. All-wheel drive remains standard.

Given the engine’s size and cylinder count, it’s no surprise there’s torque all over the tach. It really wakes up at about 4500 rpm with a reedy intake howl and a Howitzer-style blast out of a single exhaust pipe that would make most “Fast and Furious” types jealous beyond words. Gunning this barrel-chested V-12 to 8000 rpm and pulling the upshift paddle at full throttle is an automotive joy to be relished. The eGear trans is better mannered than most, shifting gently with no bucking at part throttle; banging out hard, race-car-style shifts in sport mode and orchestrating symphonic, rev-matched downshifts. This mechanical soundtrack will have you finding excuses to drive the LP640 through long tunnels.

It’s a confident handler, too, edgier and more aggressive than the previous Murcilago. Turn-in is sharp and linear, with good steering feel (love that small, suede-wrapped wheel…) and the AWD helps the front end stay pinned. Grip levels are way high, although even with AWD, you can still provoke some oversteer and slide the tail if you push it. Of course, the ride is firm; this is a car that needs to be stable at speeds nearing 200 mph. As long and wide as the LP640 is, it shrinks around you as you drive and becomes comfy with where the corners and wheels are.

At the risk of sounding clinical about such an emotional car, the LP640 isn’t perfect. Those long of torso will get more air in and over the forehead than they wish. The windshield header hits about eye level. Rear visibility is marginal as well, but, hey, being seen in it is more important than seeing out of it, right? The all-wheel drive and wide tires make the car lurch a bit when parking. And the Erector Set-style top is a limited-use piece at best, to be installed only in case of hail or an unexpected encounter with swarming locusts. The Roadster was designed as an open car and is best enjoyed that way.

An Italian friend once said of Lamborghini’s original wild child, the Countach: “It has a great big, huge personality. You may or may not like it, but the Countach knows what it is and is damn proud of it.” The wind-in-your-hair LP640 is the same. Its slightly ominous nature is a part of its charm. To discuss price or a value quotient is irrelevant. If you have the cash and want the flash, this machina magica is worth it. And it’s not just show: The LP640 has the performance to match its flamboyant demeanor. To dismiss it as an image-only toy for the rich and famous would be to discount one of the great exotic cars of our time.